Multiposition holder for sheet metal edger

ABSTRACT

An edging device of the type used to edge elbows and other curved sheet metal fittings for air conditioning ducts, and the like, is provided with an improved multipositionable holder which allows a single operator to mount and operate the edger on various type worktables and for large size fittings.

United States Patent 1191 Evans Dec. 24, 1974 MULTIPOSITION HOLDER FOR SHEET 2,294,324 8/1942 Wilkens et al. 72/181 x METAL EDGER [76] Inventor: Robert B. Evans, 21211 Currin Ave.-, Durham, NC. 27707 [22] Filed: July 5, 1973 [21 App]. No.: 376,283

[52] US. Cl. 72/179 [51] Int. Cl BZld 5/14 [58] Field of Search 72/179, 181, 182, 176

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 22,459 12/1858 Stow...'.....- ..72 179 Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr [5 7 ABSTRACT An edging device of the type used to edge elbows and other curved sheet metal fittings for air conditioning ducts, and the like, is provided with an improved mul-. tipositionable holder which allows a single operator to mount and operate the edger on various type worktables and for large size fittings 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures THEMED DEC 2 41974 sum 1m 3 PAIEHTED DEC 24 I974 SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTED UEE24 I974 isuzsr 3 pr 3 FIG. 12

l TIPOSITION HOLDER lFOR s it EDGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention is broadly directed to holders for tools which enable the tools to be clamped to worktables. More specifically, the invention is directed to holders for sheet metal edging tools of the type known as The Easy Edger and as made by the Lockformer Company, 711 Osden Avenue, Lisle, Ill.

2. Description of the Prior Art The closest and most relevant prior art is believed to be the so-called The Easy Edger, made by the Lockformer Company, as previously mentioned. This tool is used to edge sheet metal and has a clamp which enables the tool to be clamped to various width tables. Further, the tool when so clamped can be rotated around its vertical axis. However, when such tool is employed to edge large elbow fittings, e.g., a 50-inch radius, two operators are required because the tool inherently positions the metal being edged at a steep angle. Another disadvantage in the mentioned tool holder resides in the inability of the holder to be clamped to vertical surfaces on worktables and the like.

Reference may also be made to other tool holders adapted for clamping to worktables such as those employed for hand grinders, vises, and the like. However, it is believed that no prior art tool work holder has presented the problems unique to metal edging. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a metal edger tool holder that can be clamped to various worktable surfaces and that can be oriented to handle edging of both small radii, e.g., up to 26 inches, as well as large radii, e.g., 26 inches to 50 inches, sheet metal work pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to improving the type of holder conventionally provided for a sheet metal edger tool such that the tool can be oriented in one direction for handling small radius work and in another direction for large radius work. The Easy Edger type tool, previously referred to, is used by way of example. For such a tool, the invention holder provides adjustable front and back vise plates between which a worktable vertical surface may be clamped. The front vise plate mounts a yoke-receptacle structure. The receptacle portion of this structure releasably receives the edger tool and the tool may be rotated within the receptacle for different orientations. The yoke portion may be adjustably mounted on the front vise plate so as to orient the edging tool and the edging tool guide plate depending on the size of metal sheet being edged and depending on the width of table structure held by the vise -I T WTAL plates. Thus, when the operator is edging extremely large radius pieces, the edging tool guide plate can be positioned substantially horizontal which allows the work piece to rest on the worktable and a single operator to perform the work. In another embodiment, the invention apparatus is adapted to be clamped to both vertical and horizontal worktable surfaces.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevation view of the components of an edging tool holder made according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the front vise plate of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the back vise plate of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the assembled holder of the first embodiment of the invention showing the worktable, an alternate yoke position, and an alternate back vise plate position in dashed lines and showing the holder adjusted for edging a relatively large work piece. The work piece is also shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 5 is a rear end view of the assembled holder of the first embodiment and with the holder adjusted for edging a relatively large work piece.

FIG. 6 is a front end view of the assembled holder of the first embodiment with the holder adjusted for edging a relatively large work piece.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the assembled holder of the first embodiment showing a worktable in dashed lines and showing the holder adjusted for edging a relatively small work piece.

FIG. 8 is an exploded side elevation view of the components of an edging tool holder made according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the front vise plate of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the back vise plate of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the assembled holder of the second embodiment showing a worktable with a clamped vertical portion in dashed lines, showing the mounting-yoke structure adjusted for edging a relatively small work piece in solid lines and showing the mounting-yoke structure adjusted for edging a relatively large work piece in dashed lines.

FIG. 12 is like FIG. 11 and is a side elevation view of the assembled holder of the second embodiment but showing the holder clamped to a horizontal worktable surface, shown in dashed lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A sheet metal edging tool of the type with which the holder of the invention is intended to be used is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 and is generally identified by the numeral 10. Edging tool 10 conventionally includes a lower turning wheel 11, an upper turning wheel 12, a fixed guide plate 13, an adjusting crank 14 for adjusting upper wheel 12, an operating handle 15 for operating the edger and a cylindrical mounting spindle 16.

The holder structure of the invention comprises basically three elements, a front vise plate structure 20, a rear vise plate structure 21 and a tool mounting-yoke structure 22. Front vise plate structure embodies a yoke mounting plate 25 having a plurality of yoke mounting holes 26, a vise arm 27 and a plurality of vise mounting holes 28. Front vise plate structure 20 also includes a pair of threaded clamping screws 29 mounted in support plate 30 as shown. Plate 25, arm 27 and plate 30, of course, form an integral structure which may be cast or made of rigid metal plate which may be welded together or otherwise secured.

Rear vise plate structure 21 includes a rear clamping plate having a pair of integral holding points 36, a pair of vise arms 37, 38 and in vise arms 37, 38 a plurality of mated bolt holes 40 for receiving vise securing bolts 41.

The tool mounting-yoke structure 22 includes a pair of yoke arms 50, 51 with appropriately located and mated bolt holes 52 for receiving yoke securing bolts 53. Integral with yoke arms 50, 51 there is provided an open-ended cylindrical holder receptacle 55 adapted to releasably receive the edger tool mounting spindle 16 and to releasably secure the same by locking screw 56. It will be further noted that receptacle 55 is secured to the upper portions of yoke arms 50, 51, being slightly bent, by means of integral base plate 58, which cause the axis of receptacle 55 to be tilted rearwardly with respect to the general plane of the lower portions of yoke arms 50, 51.

In operation, the front vise plate arm 27 is placed between the rear vise plate anns 37, 38 and the arms are bolted together as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 for the particular width table surface being clamped. Thus, as dimensions X and Y vary, the clamping screws 29 and holding points 36 are adjusted accordingly. Of importance to the operator is the fact that the space, designated 70 (FIG. 4), between the upper 12 and lower 11 turning wheels should be positionable over the worktable when handling large radius pieces and this is readily obtained with the holder of the present invention. Also, when handling large radius pieces the guide plate 13 should be approximately from the horizontal as indicated in FIG. 4 and this is also readily obtained by adjusting the yoke arms 50, 51 accordingly. Here it will be noticed that the front vise plate structure mounting plate 25 is installed between and bolted to the yoke arms 50, 51 as shown. As best seen in FIG. 4, the tool mounting yoke structure 22 when positioned as in FIG. 4 for large work pieces enables the work piece 80 to rest on the worktable 81. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 by the dashed line positions of the rear clamping plate 35 as the table width X varies the yoke arms 50, 51 may be installed on the support plate 25 in either the solid or dashed line positions shown in FIG. 4. Thus, when handling large radius work, the space 70 between the lower and upper turning wheels, ll, 12 can be kept over or immediately next to the worktable edge and the edging tool guide plate 13 can be positioned as in FIG. 4 so that only one operator is required. Alternatively, when the holder is being used for edging small radius pieces, the yoke arms 50, 51 are readily positionable in the position shown in FIG. 7 and which is basically the only work position obtainable with conventional holders of the type related to the invention. Furthermore, the conventional holder not only requires two operators for edging large radius work but also has a very limited capability for adapting to tables of different physical configurations. Thus, the present invention provides both table adaptability and work piece size adaptability in a manner not heretofore achieved.

Most applications of the work holder of the invention lend themselves to using a vertical worktable surface as the means of support. In some cases, vertical worktable surfaces are not available or are not suitable for one reason or another as a support. Other applications in large shops or in on-the-job applications may require the holder to be adapted to being supported from either vertical or horizontal worktable surfaces. Thus, the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-12 is adapted to grip either vertical or horizontal worktable surfaces.

Since those skilled in the art will immediately appreciate the distinctions between the first embodiment (FIGS. 1-7) and the second embodiment (FIGS.

8-12), only a brief explanation will be given of the second embodiment. Like the first embodiment, the second embodiment comprises basically three elements: a front vise plate structure 20'; a rear vise plate structure 21'; and a tool mounting-yoke structure 22'.

The front vise plate structure 20 embodies the yokemounting plate 25' of the first embodiment. A second yoke-mounting plate 25", a vise arm 27, a support plate 30, and a pair of threaded clamping screws 29' are also included in the front vise plate structure 20. Plates 25', 25" and arm 27 and plate 30, as with the first embodiment, form an integral structure which may be cast, welded or otherwise secured.

The rear vise plate structure 21' includes a rear clamping plate 35', a pair of integral holding points 36' and a pair of vise amis 37', 38. While not identified by numbers, suitable holes and bolt connections are employed in the second embodiment and are used in generally the same way as in the first embodiment.

From the foregoing description of the second embodiment, it will be appreciated that the invention lends itself to providing a novel holder which is adapted to both large and small work pieces but is also adapted to clamping either vertical or horizontal worktable surfaces.

What is claimed is:

1. A tool holder structure for an edging tool of the type having upper and lower edging wheels, a work piece guide plate angularly positioned with respect thereto, an operator mechanism for adjusting and operating said wheels and a spindle mounting said tool on a holder, comprising in combination:

a. a rear vise plate structure having a rear vise clamping plate and arm means integral therewith for adjustably securing such structure to a mating opposing vise structure;

b. a front vise plate structure having a front vise screw clamp support plate, screw vise clamp means threadably mounted in said support plate, arm means integral therewith and mating with said rear vise clamping plate arm means, securing means for securing said respective arm means together in any of a plurality of table mounting positions adapted to bring said rear vise clamping plate and screw vise clamping means in predetermined laterally spaced and opposed positions for releasably clamping a worktable vertical member therebetween and having an appended vertical support plate formed integral therewith; and

c. a tool mounting-yoke structure having appended arm means arranged for being secured to said front vise plate structure vertical support plate in any of a plurality of predetermined yoke structure mounting positions, securing means for securing said mounting-yoke structure arm means to said vertical support plate and having a receptacle formation integrally secured to said mounting yoke structure, said receptacle formation being mated to receive said tool spindle in a releasable, rotatable relation with screw means to releasably secure said spindle, said table mounting positions and said yoke structure mounting positions being arranged whereby said tool turning wheels and guide plate are enabled to be positioned in a nonnal angular vertical position with respect to the work piece for a relatively small work piece and to be positioned substantially less vertically for a relatively large work piece whereby the work piece may be supported by the worktable, and said rear and front vise plate structures may be adjusted according to the width and height of the worktable vertical member to which said tool holder structure is clamped such that the space between said turning wheels may at all times be located near or over the worktable to which the tool holder structure is clamped.

2. A tool holder structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rear vise plate structure arm means cornprises a pair of arms having plural mating holes for receiving bolt means, said front vise plate structure arm means comprises a single arm mating with and having holes mating with those in said rear vise plate structure pair of arms, said front vise plate securing means com prises bolts secured in said front and rear arm mating holes, said tool mounting-yoke structure appended arm means comprises a pair of appended arms with plural mating holes, said tool mounting-yoke structure vertical support plate includes holes mating with those of said pair of appended arms and said tool mountingyoke structure securing means comprises bolt means.

yoke structure is secured to said vertical support plate. 

1. A tool holder structure for an edging tool of the type having upper and lower edging wheels, a work piece guide plate angularly positioned with respect thereto, an operator mechanism for adjusting and operating said wheels and a spindle mounting said tool on a holder, comprising in combination: a. a rear vise plate structure having a rear vise clamping plate and arm means integral therewith for adjustably securing such structure to a mating opposing vise structure; b. a front vise plate structure having a front vise screw clamp support plate, screw vise clamp means threadably mounted in said support plate, arm means integral therewith and mating with said rear vise clamping plate arm means, securing means for securing said respective arm means together in any of a plurality of table mounting positions adapted to bring said rear vise clamping plate and screw vise clamping means in predetermined laterally spaced and opposed positions for releasably clamping a worktable vertical member therebetween and having an appended vertical support plate formed integral therewith; and c. a tool mounting-yoke structure having appended arm means arranged for being secured to said front vise plate structure vertical support plate in any of a plurality of predetermined yoke structure mounting positions, securing means for securing said mounting-yoke structure arm means to said vertical support plate and having a receptacle formation integrally secured to said mounting yoke structure, said receptacle formation being mated to receive said tool spindle in a releasable, rotatable relation with screw means to releasably secure said spindle, said table mounting positions and said yoke structure mounting positions being arranged whereby said tool turning wheels and guide plate are enabled to be positioned in a normal angular vertical position with respect to the work piece for a relatively small work piece and to be positioned substantially less vertically for a relatively large work piece whereby the work piece may be supported by the worktable, and said rear and front vise plate structures may be adjusted according to the width and height of the worktable vertical member to which said tool holder structure is clamped such that the space between said turning wheels may at all times be located near or over the worktable to which the tool holder structure is clamped.
 2. A tool holder structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rear vise plate structure arm means comprises a pair of arms having plural mating holes for receiving bolt means, said front vise plate structure arm means comprises a single arm mating with and having holes mating with those in said rear vise plate structure pair of arms, said front vise plate securing means comprises bolts secured in said front and rear arm mating holes, said tool mounting-yoke structure appended arm means comprises a pair of appended arms with plural mating holes, said tool mounting-yoke structure vertical support plate includes holes mating with those of said pair of appended arms and said tool mounting-yoke structure securing means comprises bolt means.
 3. A tool holder structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front vise plate structure includes an additional appended support plate formed integral therewith and oriented with respect to said vertical support plate such that said rear vise clamping plate and screw vise clamping means may be releasably clamped to a horizontal worktable member and in such position said additional support plate is oriented vertically for releasably securing said tool-mounting yoke structure in a manner similar to that in which said tool-mounting yoke structure is secured to said vertical support plate. 